Dark Tales of Cornish Smuggling

Event information

Join us for this talk delving into the murkier side of Cornwall’s past as we explore tales of smugglers, from stories of secret tunnels leading to the sea, rumours of murder, revenge and haunted pubs, to daring exploits and battles on beaches.
All across Cornwall you’ll find folklore around smuggling, whether it’s in the fishing villages, up on the moors, in those hidden caves along the beaches, even at farms, country estates and cottages. Our smuggling past crops up everywhere, and in this talk we’ll be looking at some of the darker stories and legends connected with it, exploring some of the most notorious characters and their nefarious deeds, the reality of Cornish smuggling, and why it continues to fascinate us.
Keith Wallis is host of The Piskie Trap - a podcast series exploring the folklore, history and legends from across Cornwall. His recent work has involved a number of collaborations with leading historians, writers, folklorists and storytellers, as part of a movement to preserve local folklore traditions, and to promote Cornish history and heritage.